Variable-speed mechanism.



J. GOULDBOURN.

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15,1912.

1,190,285. Patented July 11, 1916. m

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1,190,285. PatentedJulyll, 191a 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- AWE/V70? W WT/VESSES %/%c. W

LGOULDBOURN.

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AN.15, I912. I

Patented July 11, 1916.

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JOSEPH GOULDBOURN, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

VARIABLE-SPEED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J osnrrr GoULoBoURN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Variable-Speed Mechanisms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to variable speed mechanism for use in machines such for example as are employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes and in which the speed is changed during the progress of operation on a boot or shoe, and is intended to render such mechanism more positive and easier in operation than has previously been the case.

A further advantage of the construction hereinafter described is that the parts of the mechanism are rendered more accessible and capable of easy adjustment.

The invention is hereinafter described as applied to a machine of the type that is adapted to work upon different parts of an upper successively, such for example as is described in the specification of United States Letters Patent No. 584,744, dated June 15, 1897, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to this particular type of machine.

Heretofore it has been customary to operate lasting machines of the type referred to at a substantially uniform rate of speed for all portions of the work. In practice,

however, it has been found desirable for some classes of work to run the lasting machine at a higher rate of speed when operating at some points, as for example, along the sides of the shoe, or at the heel, than at other points, as for example, about the toe where more care is required in lasting.

different parts of a shoe upper may be 010 erated upon successively at different rates of speed, and as rapidly as is consistent with the work to be done upon each part as it is presented to the lasting instrumentalitles.

To accomplish this and other objects in the most efficient manner it is highly desirable that the speed changing mechanism be so constructed and arranged that the operator may, by a minimum amount of effort, effect quickly and positively the necessary changes from one speed to another. In the example ofthe invention herein illustrated and described, this is accomplished by an improved mechanism which is designed for connecting to a driving member a plurality of speed members successively by the continued movement of an actuating member, suchfor instance as a treadle. I

An important feature of the invention is, therefore, a speed changing mechanism having devices which thrust into operation in turn each of a series of clutch members by on one center to thrust into operation one clutch member and about a different center to thrust into operation the'succeeding clutch member.

The change speed mechanism preferably comprises, according to this invention, a toggle of a novel construction and arrangement, in the construction herein shown. One element of this toggle is provided with a plurality of pivot pins adapted to be brought successively into engagement with corre sponding pockets in the other element, the said pins or the said pockets or both the said pins and the said pockets being arranged at increasing distances from the point of connection of the toggle element with the machine frame or with the machine part that is to be operated.

Then the toggle is straightened upon one of the pins and its corresponding pocket the outer ends of the elements of the toggle will be separated to an extent governed by the distances of the pivot pin and pocket from the machine frame and the part to be operated. Upon further movement of the toggle in one or the other direction another pivot pinwill be brought into engagement with its pocket and the elements will be separated to a greater or lesser extent according to whether the distances of the pin and the pocket from the ends of the toggle are greater or lesser than the distances of the pin and pooket'previously in operation. Furthermore with the use of such a device no back-thrust Wlll be transmitted to the actuating means, for example a treadle connected to move the toggle, when any one of the clutch members has been thrust into full engagement.

A change speed mechanism operated by devices such as above set forth, for example by a toggle of the novel arrangement and construction described, preferably also comprises such an arrangement of the clutch members that the said members are each in turn brought into connection with a driver. After each clutch. member is coupled with the driver it will remain in connection therewith while a different clutch member is coupled to the driver, so as to change the speed of the machine without locating the first-mentioned clutch memher in an intermediate position in which the machine is not under control. Preferably this is effected by forming the driver with a friction surface with which cooperating friction surfaces apportioned to each of the clutch members are adapted to contact, the clutch member for the lower speed being preferably connected with the driving shaft by a roller ratchet, or its equivalent, so as to enable it to over-run the said shaft when the high speed clutch member is in engagement with the driver. Preferably, also, the speed members which are thus connected to the driver by means of the above described clutch members are pulleys loose on the driving shaft and arranged to be coupled to the driver in turn through successive movements in the same direction.

A preferred construction of the invention as applied to a machine of the type referred to in the specification of the afore said prior Letters Patent will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, but it is to be under stood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to the particular construction set forth, nor is its application to be limited in any way to the machine with which it is described as being incorporated.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows in side elevation a portion of the base of a machine of the type set forth in the prior Letters Patent above referred to, the counter shaft, and a variable speed mechanism partly in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the free wheel or clutch device, on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33, Fig. 1, looking toward the left in said figure; and Figs. l, 5 and 6 are detail views in side elevation of an arrangement of toggle mechanism for operating the speed changing clutch members in succession, showing said mechanism in three different positions.

The machine to which this invention is described as being applied comprises a column A that supports a framework or head in which is journaled the main shaft of the machine, not shown, upon which are the cams and gears which give the proper motions to the several mechanisms of the machine.

In bearings 2 in the base of the column A is journaled a first motion or countershaft 4 upon which is keyed or fastened a driving pulley 6 which receives motion from any external source of power. The driving pulley is provided with a female cone friction surface 8 with which two male cone friction members 10 and 12 are adapted to be engaged. The female cone surface 8 is of sufficient extent to allow the two male friction members to be engaged at the same time with the said surface. The male cone fric tion member 10 is operatively connected, for instance by a sleeve 14, as hereinafter described, with a pulley 16 loose on the counter-shaft 4 which pulley is to be connected by a belt with another pulley on the main shaft of the machine, the ratio of the two pulleys being such as to drive the main shaft at a comparatively slow rate of speed. The other ,male cone friction member 12 is formed as part of or secured to another pulley 18 which is loosely mounted on the sleeve 14 encircling the countershaft f and is to be connected by a belt with another pulley on the main shaft. The ratio of the pair of pulleys last mentioned is different from that of the first pair referred to and is adapted to drive the main shaft at an increased rate of speed. The loose pulley 16 which is associated with the male cone friction member 10-and drives the main shaft at the slower speed, is connected with the said clutch member through a free .wheel or other connection indicated generally at 20 in Fig. 1 so as to permit the pulley 16 to overrun its connection with its friction member 10 when the main shaft is running at the higher rate of speed, the speed of the loose pulley 16 being multiplied by reason of the driven member on the main shaft for-the slow speed acting as the driver of the pulley 16 on the countershaft 4 when the main shaft is rotated through the fast speed pulleys.

A suitable construction of the free wheel or clutch connection is shown in Fig. 2 wherein the sleeve 14 has keyed securely to it a disk 22 having peripheral recesses 2-1 within which rolls 26 are located. The loose pulley 16 is provided with a flange 28 which surrounds the disk 22 and the recesses are so shaped that when the disk is turned in the appropriate direction the rolls will be jammed in the narrower ends of the recesses and drive the pulley. When the pulley, however is driven faster than the disk the rolls will move to the larger ends of the recesses and the pulley will turnfreely on the disk.

Spring plungers 30 are also profss vided, which normally tend to force the rolls toward the narrow ends of the recesses, and hard steel bearing pieces 31 are also fitted in the disk to prevent wear.

To couple the male cone friction members 10, 12, t0 the driving pulley 6 so that the main shaft can be driven first at a slow speed, and subsequently at a greater speed means are provided to move first the male friction clutch member 10 along the shaft 4 into engagement with the female surface 8 and thereafter move the second clutch member 12 also into engagement with the female surface of the driving pulley. These means preferably comprise a collar 32 that is retained in position by a ring 33 clamped to the flange 28, the collar belng normally thrust in a direction toward the left in Fig. 1 by a spring or by springs 34 which may be received in a recess or recesses 36 in the disk 22 of the free wheel device. A lost motion connection is provided between the collar 32 and the disk 22 of the free wheel and a lever 38 provided with rollers 40 (see Fig. 3) and fulcrumed at 42 upon an eXtension of the column A is so arranged that through its movement the collar 32 will be propelled by the said rollers toward the right in Fig. 1 and through the springs 34 and the disk 22 secured to the sleeve 14 will cause the male cone friction surface 10 to be moved longitudinally so as to engage the female clutch friction member 8. Further movement of the lever 38 will cause a bush ing 44, which-is threaded to a sleeved extension 320 of the collar 32, and hence adjustably mounted, to act on thrust rods 46, which are carried in recesses in the sleeve 14 and are connected at one end to the pulley 18 and have their opposite ends normally spaced a slight distance from the inner end of the bushing 44, the springs 34 yielding during such movement. The rods 46 being actuated longitudinally will impart a like movement to the male friction member 12 to cause the latter to engage the female cone surface 8, and thus impart a greater speed to the various mechanisms.

The driving pulley 6 is provided with a screw threaded collar 48 arranged on the side opposite to that in which the female cone surface 8 is formed, the said collar 48 being provided with a set screw 50. The collar 48 contacts with one of the members of a ball bearing situated between itself and the bearing 2 that supports the countershaft and by the provision of the collar 48 and the adjustable bushing 44 in the extension 320 of the collar 32 adjustment is rendered easy and the wear of the parts taken up readily.

To obtain the different extents of movement of the lever by the continuous movement of a treadle the following device is preferably employed. The free end of the lever 38 is connected by a toggle link 52 with a second toggle link 54 pivoted at 55 to the column A, or to a bracket thereon. The

toggle link 52 is provided with two pivot pins 54 3 54", arranged at different distances from the end of the link that is attached to the lever 38. The link 54 of the toggle is pro vided with a slot 56 at the end forming the middle of the toggle joint. heart shaped with the base formedas two pockets 56 56 with which the pivot pins 54*, 54", are adapted to alternately engage. The treadle lever 60 is connected with one arm of the toggle by a link 62and when the portion of the treadle to'which the link is connected'is raised the first action will be to move the toggle from the position shown in Fig. 4 into that shown in Fig. 5 wherein it The slot 56 is,

will be seen that the pin 54 of the link 52 e is cooperating with the pocket 56' in the other link 54. As the pivot pin 54 is arranged at a lesser distance from the end of the link than the other pin 54 the effect will be to push the lever a distance only sufficient to couple the friction member 10 with the female clutch surface 8. Further I motion of the toggle upward'will bring thev and the various mechanisms and gears actuated thereby will be operated at an increased speed." The curved sides of the heartshaped slot 56 will permit the pivot pin 54 to move away from its pocket 56* when the toggle is broken upon the upper pivot pin 54 to remove both friction members 10 and 12 fro-m the female cone surface 8 of the driving pulley 6. If desired, the toggle may have a plurality of differently centered fulcrums at either of its ends instead of the plurality of different centers at its middle.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to seci'ire by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A speed changing mechanism comprising a driving member, driven members constructed for operative engagement with the driving member, a manually controlled actuating member, and connections from said actuating member to the driven members constructed and arranged to move said driven members successively toward and into operative relation to the driving member upon movement of said actuating member in one direction.

2. A speed changing mechanism comprising a driving member, driven members having means for effecting operative engagement respectively with different portions of the driving member, a manually controlled actuating member, and connections between said actuating member and the driven members whereby said driven members are moved successively in the same direction into operative relation with the driving member upon movement of said actuating member in one direction. e

3. A speed changing mechanism comprising a driving member, a plurality of members for imparting different operative speeds to the machine, and a manually controlled actuating member for successively moving said speed members into clutching engagement with the driving member upon'continuous movement of said actuating memher in one direction.

el. A speed changing mechanism having a plurality of driven speed members each having connection with a clutch device, a

driving member having a clutch surface for engagement with said clutch devices, and a manually operated member and connections constructed and arranged to cause successive clutching engagements between said devices and the driving member upon move ment of the manually operated member in one direction.

5. A speed changing mechanism having driven members and a driving member, a male friction surface member connected to each of the driven members, the driving member having a cooperating female friction surface of suflicient extent to permit both of the male friction surfaces to be engaged therewith at the same time, and means for initially moving one of said male friction surfaces into clutching engagement with the female surface and for thereafter moving the other male friction surface into clutching engagement with the female friction surface while the clutching engagement between the first named male friction surface and the female friction surface is maintained.

6. A speed changing mechanism having a shaft, a driving member fast on the shaft, driven members, and means for initially clutching one of said driven members to said driving member and for thereafter clutching the other of said driven members to the driving member while the clutching engagement between the driving member and the first named driven member is maintained, together with means for permitting one of said driven members to overrun the shaft when both of the driven members are clutched to the driving member.

7. A variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member and a plurality of power transmission members carried by said shaft and adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed, means for successively moving said transmission members into clutching engagement with the driving member, and means to permit the lower speed transmission member to overrun the shaft when the higher speed member is connected with said driving member.

8. A variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member and a plurality of power transmission members carried by said shaft and adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed, actuating means for successively connecting the lower speed member and the higher speed member with the driving member, and means to permit the lower speed member to overrun the shaft when the higher speed member is connected with said driving member.

9. A variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member fast to said shaft, a plurality of power transmission members loose on said shaft and adapted respectively for transmitting powerat differ cut rates of speed, means for successively moving said transmission members into clutching engagement with said driving member, and means to permit the lower speed member to overrun the shaft when the higher speed member is connected with said driving member.

10. A variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member fast to said shaft, a plurality of power-transmission members loose on said shaft and adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed, a manually controlled actuating member and connections for successively connecting said transmission mem bers with the driving member by continu ous movement of the actuating member in one direction, and means to permit the lower speed member to. overrun the shaft when the higher speed member is connected with said driving member.

11. A variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member fast to the shaft and having a clutching surface, power transmission members loose on the shaft and adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed, said transmission members having clutching means to cooperate with said surface, manually actuated means-for causing successive engagements the transmission members with said driving member, and a ratchet clutch connecting the lower speed member with said shaft to permit said member to overrun the shaft when the higher speed member is connected to the driving member.

12. A speed changing mechanism having a plurality of clutch devices, and means for successively operating said clutch devices including a member having movement about one center to operate one clutch device and having movement in the same direction about another center to operate the other clutch device.

' cessively actuating said members to change their relation to the source of power including a toggle link having movement about one center to actuate one speed member and having movement about a different center to actuate the other speed member.

15. A speed changing mechanism comprising a driving member, two driven members, and means for moving said, driven members in turn to change their relations to the driving member comprising a toggle having a link connected to operate said driven members and arranged to pivot successive] y on different centers at the joint of the toggle as the toggle is operated, said driven members being arranged with reference to said link to receive movements in turn corresponding to movements of the link about the respective centers.

16. 'A speed changing mechanism comprising a plurality of driven members, a clutch device connected to each of the driven members, a driving member having a clutch surface for cooperation with the said clutch devices, and means for causing successive engagements of said clutch devices with the clutch surface on the driving member, said means including a member having movement about one center to operate one clutch device and having movement about a different center to operate the other clutch device.

17. A speed changing device comprising a plurality of driven members, a clutch device connected to each of the driven members, a driving member having a clutch surface for cooperation with said, clutch devices, and means including a member having movement about different centers to operate in turn the said clutch devices in the same direction for causing successive engagement of said clutch devices with the clutch surface on the driving member.

18. In a speed changing mechanism, a driving membeigtwo driven members, and means for moving said driven members to change their relations to the driving member comprising a toggle whose links are connected to turn successively on different pivots, said pivots being arranged at sueh distances from the ends of the toggle as to cause consecutive movements in one direction of one of the toggle links, and the driven members being arranged in relation to said link to receive movements in turn corresponding to the successive movements of said link. I 19. A speed changing mechanism having, in combination, a plurality of clutch devices, and means for operating said devices to ef fect changes of speed comprising an operating member connected with said devices and arranged for movements about different centers successively, said devices being arranged to receive movements in turn corresponding respectively to movements of said operating member about the centers.

20. A speed changing mechanism having a driving member, driven members, devices for clutching each of the driven members to the driving member, operating means for the said devices comprising a toggle of which one element is provided with avplurality of pockets, and the other element with a plurality of pivot pins arranged to engage in turn in corresponding recesses of said first element to change the effective leverage during operation of the toggle, said clutch devices being arranged with reference to the toggle to receive movements in turn corresponding to the engagement of different pivot pins in their cooperating recesses. r V

21. In a speed changing mechanism, a driving member, two driven members, and means for moving the driven members to change theirrelations to the driving member comprising a toggle having one element pivoted to a fixed support and the other element arranged for operative connection with said driven members, and connections between the toggle elements consisting of a purality of pivot pins on one element and pockets with which the pins are successively adapted to engage on the other element, the pins'and pockets being arranged at different distances from the connection of said toggle with the driven members, and said driven members being arranged with reference to the toggle to receive movements in turn corresponding to the engagements of different pins in the cooperating pockets of the toggle.

22. In a speed changing mechanism, a power transmission member, two speed members arranged to cooperate with said power transmission member for transmitting power at different rates of speed, and means for moving said speed members to change their relations to the power transmission member comprising a toggle in which one element is provided with a plurality of pockets and the other element with different bers being arranged with reference to the toggle to receive movements in turn corresponding to the engagements of different pins in the cooperating pockets of the toggle.

23. In a speed changing mechanism, a female clutch member, two male clutch members, a manually actuated member and connections for causing successive engagement of the male clutch members with the female clutch member upon movement of the manually actuated member in one direction, and variable speed devices carried by said male clutch members.

24:. In a device of the class described, a power transmission member, two speed members arranged to cooperate with said power transmission member for transmitting power at different rates of speed, and means for moving said speed members to change their relations to the power transmission member comprising the lever 38, the toggle having link 52 pivoted to lever 38 and provided with the pivot pins 54?, 54 and the link 54 having the heart-shaped slot 56 with the pockets 56 56 and pivoted to a fixed support, and means including the link 62 for actuating said toggle.

25. A speed changing mechanism having, in combination, a driving shaft, a driving member fast thereon, a low speed pulley and a high speed pulley loose on the driving shaft, and means for effecting clutching engagement of first one and then the other of said pulleys with the driving member through successive movements of said pulleys in the same direction.

26. A speed changing mechanism havin in combination, a driving shaft, a driving 40- member fast thereon, a low speed pulley and a high speed pulley loose on the driving shaft and located on the same side of the driving member, each of said pulleys having a means to engage frictionally with the driving member, and means for moving said pulleys successlvely 1n the same direction so as to clutch first one and then the other to the drivingmember through said engaging means.

27. A speed changing mechanism having, in combination, a driving shaft, a driving member fast thereon, a pulley loose on said shaft and having a sleeve provided with means to engage with the driving member.

a second pulley mounted loosely upon said sleeve and provided also with means to engage with the driving member, and means for moving said pulleys successively in the same direction so as to clutch first one and then the other to the driving member through said engaging means.

28. A speed changing mechanism having, in combination, a shaft, a power transmission member fast on the shaft, a pair of members adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed loose on the shaft, and means for bringing first one and then the other of said pair of members into clutching engagement with said power transmission member through successive movements of the respective members of the pair in the same direction.

29. A speed changing mechanism having, in combination, a shaft, a power transmission member fast on the shaft, a pair of members adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed loose on the shaft on the same side of said power transmission member, and means for first moving that member of said pair which is more remote from the power transmission member and for subsequently moving the other member of the pair to bring said two members successively. into cooperative relation with said power transmission member.

30. A speed changing mechanism having, in combination, a shaft, a power transmission member fast on the shaft, apair of members adapted respectively for transmitting power at different rates of speed loose on the shaft on the same side of said power transmission member, and means for first moving that member of said pair which is more remote from the power transmission member into clutching engagement with said member and for subsequently effecting clutching engagement of the other member of said pair with said power transmission member.

31. A variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft, a driving member fast on the shaft, and a low speed transmission member and a high speed transmission member carried by the shaft and arranged for operative connection simultaneously with the driving member, said low speed transmission memher being free for rotation with respect to the shaft in the direction of forward rotation of the driving member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN.

WVitnesses:

JOHN RICHARD LAW, CLAUD BENNION.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,190,285, granted Jilly 11, 1916, upon the application of Joseph Gouldbourn, of Leicester, England, for Variable- Speed Mechanisms, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 85, strike out the words in the construction herein shown; same page, line 86, after the Word toggle insert. the Words in the construction herein shown; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice. I i i i Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D., 1916.

F. H. CLAY, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

